Fluorescent light socket



y 25, 1967 H. J. DELL ETAL FLUORESCENT LIGHT socxm Filed March 5. 1965 INVENTOR. HARRY Jul-in bIl-L NANO/ .wNl nouq-Hll-ry WILLIAM .wllIi-I GAnvlR BY ncazmmamas awlnen. 3!- W M q W n 9 I w 4 A4 n 2 am 1 w. L w I United States Patent 3,333,227 FLUORESCENT LIGHT SOCKET Harry John Bell, Camp Hill, Robert Charles Swengel, Jr., Hellam, and Nancy June Dougherty and William Joseph Garver, Harrisburg, Pa., assignors to AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa.

Fiied Mar. 5, 1965, Ser. No. 437,451 7 Claims. (Cl. 339-53) This invention relates to light sockets, and more particularly to fluorescent light sockets.

Heretofore, fluorescent light sockets have been made as a one-piece member with contact members disposed in individual passageways, so that respective contact pins of the fluorescent light can be disposed in a respective passageway and iii electrical engagement with the contact member therein. Sockets of this kind have the drawback of not providing a common chamber into which the fluorescent pins are disposed and in which these pins are electrically engageable with contact members. Another drawback is the faot that contact members are not readily removable from the socket. In sockets of the type having more than one piece, they are costly due to the provision of more than one piece and the contact members are secured in place when the socket is assembled.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a one-piece socket for discharge lamps having a common chamber into which the contact pins of the lamp are disposed, and in which these pins are electrically engageable with contact members.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a socket member in which contact members are readily removable therefrom and insertable therein.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a socket member which is durable and strong and which cannot be easily broken.

Other objects and attainments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention; it is to be understood, however, that this embodiment is not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but is given for purposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify it in various forms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the socket member with the contact members in place therein;

FIGURE 2 is a view, taken along lines 22 of FIG- URE 1, with one contact member in place in the socket member and one contact member exploded therefrom;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2. with both contact members in place within the socket member; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the contact member.

Turning now to the drawings, there is illustrated a onepiece socket member 1 which is made from any suitable thermosetting or thermoplastic material, such as for example, Bakelite nylon, or the like, which is preferably molded. Socket member 1 has a centrally-located chamber 2 of substantially triangular configuration with the ends of the base portion defining outwardly-curved portions. Chamber 2 is open in the front surface of the socket member and is closed by the bottom surface thereof. An entrance slot 3 is disposed in the socket member and is in communication with chamber 2 at the apex thereof. Each outer surface 4 of entrance slot 3 is preferably beveled in order to facilitate access to slot 3.

Contact passages 5, 6 extend outwardly from the outer curved ends of chamber 2 to the end of the socket member opposite the end containing entrance slot 3, and access passages '7, 8 extend inwardly from the end containing entrance slot 3 and each access passage terminates at an inner surface 9. Each passage 5, 6 actually continues beyond the respective curved end of chamber 2 and terminates at an abutment 10 which is disposed in each side of chamber 2. Thus, chamber 2 is in communication with entrance slot 3, contact passages 5, 6 and accesss passages 7, 8; and contact passage 5 is in communication with access passage 7 while contact passage 6 is in communication with access passage 8.

Holes 11 extend through socket member 1 in order that a screw or similar mounting means can be passed therethrough so as to mount the socket members in position to receive the fluorescent tube. Each mounting hole 11 has a U-shaped recess 12 surrounding it so that the head of the screw can be disposed therein. Slots 13 are disposed in each side of contact passages 5, 6 in order to allow the leads connected to the contact members to be disposed at right-angles with respect to the contact passages if desired.

A preferred contact member 14 to be inserted in contact passages 5, 6 is illustrated in FIGURE 4, and includes a ferrule section 15 and a contact section 16. Ferrule section 15 has a section crimped onto the conductive portion of insulated lead 17 and another portion crimped onto the insulation thereof. Of course, insulated lead 17 may be connected to contact member 14 in any desirable manner other than crimping, but the crimping method is the preferred method. Contact section 16 is U-shaped in configuration having the bottom leg extending outwardly from ferrule section 15, and the outer leg is freely disposed with respect to the bottom leg with the outer leg having sufli cient spring characteristics to enable it to retain its position relative to the bottom leg after repeated movements theretoward. The bottom leg has a lance member 18 extending outwardly therefrom while the outer leg has a bend 19 therein, while the free end outwardly from the 19 is disposed at about 60 with respect to the bottom leg and the other part of the outer leg is bent slightly outwardly with respect to the bottom leg.

In assembly, each contact member is inserted within its respective contact passage with bend 19 disposed toward the center of the socket member. The contact member is then pushed within the contact passage until the leading edge thereof engages abutment 10, whereupon lance member 18 moves outwardly into alignment with surface 9. The free end of contact section 16 engages the inner wall of the contact passage so as to keep the bottom leg disposed toward the outer wall of the contact passage and lance member 18 in alignment with surface 9 so that the contact member is maintained in a locked position within the passage. In order to remove a contact member from its contact passage, a suitable tool (not shown) is inserted within the respective access passage in engagement with the lance member. Upon movement of the tool against surface 9, the lance member is moved free of surface 9; and, upon force being applied to the lead, the contact member is removed from the contact passage.

After both contact members have been disposed in their respective contact passages and the socket member has been mounted on an appropriate mounting member along with another socket member, a fluorescent tube (not shown) is ready to be inserted into the aligned socket members. This is accomplished in the normal fashion with the contact pins of the fluorescent tube being passed through entrance slot 3 into chamber 2; and, after the contact pins are disposed within chamber 2, the fluorescent tube is rotated while pushing upwardly on the fluorescent tube so that contact pins 20 are seated in bends 19 of the contact members in a resilient manner, as illustrated in FIGURE 3, in order to provide an excellent electrical and mechanical connection therebetween. Thus, the spring characteristics of the contact 'members are spring-loaded to supply constant pressure on the contact pins of the fluorescent tube in a direction toward the center of the socket member, and the portion of the upper leg of the contact sections below bends 19 prevent the contact pins from coming free therefrom, and the only way that the contact pins will be removed from the bends of the contact members is to rotate the fluorescent tube. Rotation of the fluorescent tube to place the contact pins into bends 19 of the contact members causes the contact pins and the" outer legs of contact section 16 of the contactmembers to be engaged along a suflicient path so as to provide a wiping action therebetween, which breaks-down oxide coatings on the contact pins and contact members thereby providing an excellent electrical connection therebetween.

As can be discerned, there has been disclosed a onepiece socket member having a chamber in communication with an entrance slot, contact passages and access passages, and wherein contact members are readily placed in and removed from the contact passages.

It will, therefore, be appreciated that the aforementioned and other desirable objects have been achieved; however, it should be emphasized that the particular embodiment of the invention, which is shown and described herein, is intended as merely illustrative and not as restrictive of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A one-piece lamp socket comprising a body member having a centrally-located chamber with one end open, an entrance slot and contact passages, said entrance slot being disposed at one end of said body member in communication with said chamber and said contact passages extending substantially parallel to each other from a position in communication with said chamber to the other end of said body member; contact members each disposed in a respective contact passage and having a springy section extending within said chamber; and means on said contact members and in said body member to maintain said contact members in position including a lance member on each of said contact members engaging a lateral surface from each of said contact passages and an abutment at the end of each of said contact passages toward which each of said'contact members is directed.

2. A one-piece lamp socket according to claim 1 wherein access passages are disposed in said body member in alignment with said means to maintain said contact members in position so as to allow said contact members to be removable from said contact passages.

3. A one-piece lamp socket according to claim 2 wherein said access passages are in communication with said chamber.

4. For use as a supporting and connecting member for a fluorescent light member, a one-piece socket member having a triangularly-shaped chamber, an entrance slot, contact passages and access passages, said entrance slot being disposed at one end of said chamber at the apex thereof and in communication therewith, said contact passages extending outwardly from the ends of said chamber and in communication therewith, said access passages extending along said chamber outwardly from said contact passages and in communication with said chamber and contact passages, and contact members disposed in said contact passages each having a spring section disposed in said chamber and a lance section engaging a surface of the respective access passage to lock the contact member in position.

5. In a lamp socket, a one-piece body member having a triangularly-shaped chamber, an entrance slot and contact passages, said chamber having an apex directed toward one end and arcuately-shaped ends directed toward another end of said body member, said entrance slot being located at said apex and in communication with said chamber, each of said contact passages extending through said body member from a respective ar-cuately-shaped end to the other end and in communication with said chamber, each of said contact passages being adapted to receive a contact member having a spring section for disposition within said chamber, and means to maintain the contact members in position in the contact passages and to permit removal of the contact members therefrom, said means comprising access passages'in said body member extending to a surface adjacent each of said contact passages with the surfaces being engaged by lance members on the contact members.

6. In a lamp socket, a one-piece body member having a chamber, an entrance slot and at least one contact passage, said chamber being open in one surface of said body member and said entrance slot being in communication with said chamber, said contact passage extending outwardly from said chamber and in communication therewith, contact means in said contact passage including a section disposed in said chamber, maintaining means in said contact passage and on said contact means'to maintain said contact means in position within said contact passage, said body member having an access passage in alignment with said maintaining means to permit access to said maintaining means to disengage the maintaining means of said contact means from the maintaining means of said contact passage so that said contact means can be removed from said contact passage.

7. In a lamp socket, a one-piece body member having a chamber, an entrance slot and at least one contact passage, saidchamber being open in one surface of said body member and said entrance slot being in communi cation with said chamber, said contact passage extending outwardly from said chamber and in communication therewith, contact means in said contact passage including a section disposed in said chamber, abutment means in said contact passage toward which said contact means is directed and engage'able to'limit movement of said contact means in one direction in said contact passage, said contact passage'having a securing surface, and projection means extending outwardly from said contact means and in alignment with said securing surface to limit movement of said contact means in another direction in said contact passage, said body member having an access passage in alignment with said securing'surface to permit access to saidprojecti-on means to move said projection means clear of said securing surface so that said contact means can be removed from said contact passage.

References Cited UNITED S ATES PATENTS 2,728,060 12/1955 Doeg 339-192 2,729,799 1/1956 Pistey 339-52 FOREIGN PATENTS 662,556 12 1951 France.

1,074,996 4/1954 France.

581,227 10/ 1946 Great Britain.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

ALFRED S. TRJASK, Examiner, J. H. MCGLYNN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A ONE-PIECE LAMP SOCKET COMPRISING A BODY MEMBER HAVING A CENTRALLY-LOCATED CHAMBER WITH ONE END OPEN, AN ENTRANCE SLOT AND CONTACT PASSAGES, SAID ENTRANCE SLOT BEING DISPOSED AT ONE END OF SAID BODY MEMBER IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID CHAMBER AND SAID CONTACT PASSAGES EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER FROM A POSITION IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID CHAMBER TO THE OTHER END OF SAID BODY MEMBER; CONTACT MEMBERS EACH DISPOSED IN A RESPECTIVE CONTACT PASSAGE AND HAVING A SPRINGY SECTION EXTENDING WITHIN SAID CHAMBER; AND MEANS ON SAID CONTACT MEMBERS AND IN SAID BODY MEMBER TO MAINTAIN SAID CONTACT MEMBERS IN POSITION INCLUDING A LANCE MEMBER ON EACH OF SAID CONTACT MEMBERS ENGAGING A LATERAL SURFACE FROM EACH OF SAID CONTACT PASSAGES AND AN ABUTMENT AT THE END OF EACH SAID CONTACT PASSAGES TOWARD WHICH EACH OF SAID CONTACT MEMBERS IS DIRECTED. 